Sharks Commercial Manager Rudolf Straeuli confirmed today to the Witness that the du Plessis brother, Bismarck and Jannie, have signed new contracts that will keep them in durban until at least 2013.

Rumours earlier in the week suggested that they might want to play elsewhere after the World Cup, but we’re pleased to announce that these turned out to be spurious.

According to Straeuli, all of the Sharks senior Super Rugby squad have now committed their future to the Durban team.

Yeah he was,big fella too.use to like him and Tim Dlulane.

He left for France after 2006 with Lions who had dropped him onto bench.

Signed with Brive and eventually became most expensive player in France at a point in time around 2008.

Before likes of Racing Metro/Toulon came into Top 14 splashing money around for Steyn,Hayman,SBW etc

Vosloo was in running to be in French squad at some point but it has since become silent…likes of Picamoles,Quaderogo etc have come to prominence.

Very good player though.

True but many of those guys Griquas bought themselves

5 Riaan Viljoen (Sharks Academy graduate)
14 Fabian Juries (was signed from the Cheetahs)
13
12
11 Bjorn Basson (Played for EP first i think)
10 Naas Olivier (WP)
9 Sarel Pretorius (made name at Falcons)

8.Mokuena (Leopards/Pukke inistitute)

etc

But yeah unfortunate,remember the Pumas a few years ago? were in same position (Brent Russell,Henno Mentz,Tim Dlulane,Gerhard Vosloo,Marco Wentzel,Pierre Uys,Gavin Passens) and it was the Falcons before them(Adi Jacobs,Ettiene Botha etc)….

Pro sport is rough….Andre Makgraaf unearthed a lot of gems at the Institutes he set up first at the Griffons and also Griquas…But questionable commercial viability of those regions and lure of the big time of Big 5 is too strong.

Just another opportunity lost for me.

@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-24: Ek hoop net die twee aanwinste leer solank om die bal vas te hou of weg te skop

15 Riaan Viljoen (now signed with Sharks)
14 Fabian Juries (signed with WP and now back at Cheetahs)
13
12 Barry Geel (now signed with Cheetahs)
11 Bjorn Basson (now signed with Bulls)
10 Naas Olivier (now signed with Aironi)
9 Sarel Pretorius (now signed with Waratahs / Cheetahs)

The griquas pack is actually good one:

8 Jonathan Mokouena (super rugby with Lions)
7 Davon Raubenheimer (Springbok tourist)
6 Wesley Wilkins
5 Martin Muller (former Stormer)
4 Hendrik Roodt (former Waratah)
3
2 Rayno Barnes (cheetah super rugby)

They also have Monty Dumond and Earl Rose as fly halves with some experience.

Had they kept the backline they could have done well, especially with an improving pack and new players such as Dusty Noble and Jean Stemmett

15: Jurgen Visser, a deputy to Zane Kirchner, Bulls havent had a back up since Tiger Mangweni left

14: JJ Engelbrecht, is a replacement in the long term for Akona Ndungane

13: Johaan Sadie, is the spark needed at 13 because Olivier and Pretorius combination doesnt work

11: Bjorn Basson, signed to overcome the loss of Bryan Habana but also long term prospect on the wing once Akona Ndugane has retierd and when finally the Bulls managment play Van Den Heever at 15 ahead of Kirchner..

9: Jano Vermaak, a replacement for Fourie Du Preez to interlink with Francois Hougaard at no.9

5: Juandre Kruger, replaces the departing Victor Matfield
4: Willhelm Steenkamp, replaces departing Bakkies Botha

2: Willie Wepener: signed to replace the departing Gary Botha (apparently)

Also the injury to Gurthro Steenkamp came as a blessing in dicuise for the Bulls because Dean Greyling got more game time and has shown he is a quality loose head who now has bok test matches as expieriences.

It’s good news for the Boks, as he will return to the country regularly and they can still take a look at him.

Then again if he makes the Boks, the Cheetahs will hardly see him!